Players from both Australia and New Zealand have come together to reflect on what it means to represent their family and country on a special ANZAC Day slate of Rugby.
With ANZAC Day rarely falling on a Saturday, it has provided a triple-header of trans-Tasman action on either side of the Tasman.
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It's headlined by the Wallaroos against the Black Ferns on the Sunshine Coast, the first time the two nations have played a Test on the day.
The teams have deep connections to serving their countries in the armed forces, with Black Ferns lock Laura Bayfield an active member of the New Zealand Army as a captain.
Bayfield was proud and excited to see her two jobs combine after her sudden rise in the Black Ferns set-up.
“I think as a service person, being able to play on Anzac Day is a really special occasion. So, it's going to be a really proud moment for both our teams, the first ever women's rugby match to be played on Anzac Day, so it's an extremely momentous occasion," she said.
"I was really, really excited. I never thought I would be able to have a moment like this, where both my careers collide so to be able to play rugby, to pull on the black jersey on Anzac Day is a proud moment."
The Wallaroos have had past players pull off similar double duty, with props Lydia Kavoa and Bree-Anna Browne amongst several who have balanced both lives.
For back-rower Piper Duck, the game is an opportunity to represent people like them whilst also family members who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“I get chills thinking about it," she explained.
“I've had people in my family who have served. My pop was in World War II, my uncle fought in East Timor so it means a lot to me to be able to play on a day like Anzac Day and it’s really prominent in what our family stands for.
“My uncles walk on Anzac Day every time with my pop's and my uncle’s medals as well, so being able to participate in a game which in a sense represents them and what they've given to this country, it means a lot to me.
“It's something I hope I do them proud in that moment, no matter the result, because it's something that we can never repay the service they gave."
The Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies have built growing rivalries around the ANZAC Day period with the Blues and Hurricanes, respectively.
The Reds-Blues player of the match will be awarded the Sellars Dixon Medal, named after Auckland’s All Black George Sellars and Queensland’s Billy Dixon, both losing their lives on the battlefield in World War One.
The Brumbies-Hurricanes will play for the Captain Shout Cup, whose birthplace was in Wellington but served both in the New Zealand and Australian militaries.
"Since I've been here, we've had a real growth in understanding the depth of that through our jerseys that we've created," Reds coach Les Kiss said.
“We've connected with people who have actually had experiences of their families involved in those period so we've made sure it's an important part of our build-up.
"The medal that goes to the player of the match reflects some real important history from both Auckland and Queensland so it's not missed, that's for sure and even though it's some time ago, we should never forget."
